Coach O'D's brother Captain Brian P O'Donnell has been named the deputy Commandant of the US Naval Academy

Captain O'Donnell was born in Yonkers, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1988 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in History. He is also a graduate of the United States Naval War College, having received a Masters of Arts Degree in National Security and International Affairs, and a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College.

Captain O'Donnell's initial sea tour was in USS RICHMOND K. TURNER (CG 20) as R-Division Officer, M-Division Officer, and Fire Control Officer, deploying with USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group in support of Operations Desert Storm and Provide Comfort. His second sea tour was in USS NORMANDY (CG 60) as Weapons Control Officer and Combat Systems Officer, deploying with USS AMERICA and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON Battle Groups. His next sea tour was in USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG 58) as Executive Officer. He also served in US SEVENTH FLEET Staff as Fleet Surface Warfare Officer and Future Operations Officer. In December 2005, Captain O'Donnell assumed command of USS CURTIS WILBUR (DDG 54), forward deployed with USS KITTY HAWK Strike Group to the Western Pacific.

Captain O'Donnell has served ashore in the Department of Seamanship and Navigation, United States Naval Academy as a Naval Science Instructor. Additionally, he has served ashore in the Office of Surface Officer Distribution (PERS-41), Navy Personnel Command as Atlantic Fleet Cruiser Destroyer Placement Officer. Most recently, he was assigned to United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) in Colorado Springs, Colorado as the Ballistic Missile Defense (J31) Current Operations Branch Chief. During that tour, he was certified as a USNORTHCOM Missile Defense Officer, and served in that capacity in both Cheyenne Mountain and the NORAD-NORTHCOM Command Center (N2C2).